Rubin’s Trail Museum: War Artifacts
An armored mechanical monstrosity the height of a chicken stood in a frightening pose. Its jetpack and hydraulic limbs promised quick movement. The large cannons on its arms and back promised destruction to whatever came near. It did not more. It could not move. It was merely a display, no ammunition, energy packs, or programming. These days, it was just a heap of machinery to show admirers a piece of what Rubin’s Trail defeated those years ago with the help of a ‘few’ Champions.
Rubin’s Trail welcomed viewers, for a moderate fee. Champions and citizens alike traveled from around the globe to see the wonders of this museum, this wing in particular. The horror known as the Mech War was still relatively recent. Many changes were made throughout the world to ensure that it never could happen again.
It was early evening. The last of the guided tours were finishing. The tour guide walked backwards ensuring her group was together, not lingering on one artifact for very long. “And now we enter the Mech War portion of the museum,” she spoke loud enough for everyone in her group to hear, a bit louder in fact. Her voice echoed from the walls.
Immediately she heard the gasps from the guests. The Mech Lord, as they were named by the Champions, was always an attention getter. While recorded history and videos of them were easily accessible. There was no substitute for seeing one up close.
The surprised looks on the guests faces was all too familiar to the guide. The first time she saw it she had nightmares for weeks. She shook off her fright and continued the tour. She looked at the armored mechanical monstrosity and spoke again, “This is what is what was known as a Mech Lord. They were dangerous by themselves but were rarely alone. They were often accompanied by at least forty of those smaller machines.”
She turned around and pointed behind the group. Incased in glass was an assortment of smaller machines. Some looked a bit like them; others seemed to be inspired by flying insects. All of them looked very, very dangerous. Some of them had blades attached to their hands others had guns. Each one of them had a small plaque with a bit of information just below them.
“The Mech Lord’s greatest weapon was its size. It would draw all the attention while the smaller machines would attack from hidden openings in the fortress. A Mech Lord wouldn’t have to do a lot of damage even though it was quite capable.”
She walked them to a far wall where two fist-sized balls of enchanted metal were set. One was a bright red and the other was a light blue. They were connected by a seven centimeter chain. They were encased in glass and further secured by a metal cage. “These are the actual weapons of Aa Dee Seven,” she pointed to the cage and gave each of them a chance to get a good look, “When the…”
“BING”
That was the chime signaling the close of the museum. She had so much more to show them. “It appears that we have run out of time with this tour. Are there any quick questions?”
A male in the front blurted out a question, “Is it true that Aa Dee Seven was found in the Mech Fortress when it fell?”
“Yes she was,” the guide said with a little sadness, “but she lusted for the power of machines so much that she turned herself into one. By the time they found her, she was unrecognizable as a Crisho. That was the real tragedy,” she said solemnly as the moral of a story. “She became one of the monsters she created.”
“What did they do with her,” another voice called out.
“They keep her in a secured area of the museum. It’s only opened on rare occasions.” The chime sounded again, louder this time. “It seems we must leave soon,” she said guiding them to the exit, “This way.”
—————
Deep below the museum, in a chamber only accessible to the highest ranking scientists of Rubin’s Trail, a mechanical body shaped as a young Chisho female stands in a stasis field. Covered in various metals and enchants stolen from champions over decades, it stays motionless. It has been studied by great minds but is alone for the moment. Reassembled and preserved lifeless for nearly ten years.
It awakens.